Saturday
Arsenal (4) v Liverpool (7)
Top scorer Nicolas Anelka has passed a fitness test to lead Arsenal's attack, but Marc Overmars suffered a knee injury in the FA Cup victory at Preston and is rated very doubtful with Luis Boa Morte on stand by. David Seaman, Tony Adams, Nigel Winterburn, Fredrik Ljungberg, Nelson Vivas and Fabian Caballero are all sidelined. Winterburn's place will go to either Matthew Upson or David Grondin.
Robbie Fowler and Karlheinz Riedle will again compete to play alongside Michael Owen in Liverpool's attack. Skipper Paul Ince is struggling with flu, but Norwegian full back Vegard Heggem should have recovered from the illness that kept him out of the Cup win at Port Vale. Stig Bjornebye is suspended, which gives an opportunity for Dominic Matteo or Steve Harkness to play at left-back.
Last season: Arsenal 0 Liverpool 1, Liverpool 4 Arsenal 0
Last five league matches: Arsenal DLWWW, Liverpool LLWWW
Top scorers: Nicolas Anelka (Arsenal) 7; Michael Owen (Liverpool) 16
Match odds: H Evens A 9-4 D 9-4
Referee: G Barber (Pyrford)
Blackburn (16) v Leeds (5)
Kevin Gallacher is doubtful with a calf injury leaving Ashley Ward as the only striker definitely available for Blackburn. Chris Sutton (knee), Nathan Blake (flu) are both missing and Kevin Davies is suspended. Tim Sherwood, Jeff Kenna and Callum Davidson all face late fitness tests. Darren Peacock returns after a one-match ban.
Leeds skipper Lucas Radebe is definitely ruled out despite a comeback in the reserves this week. He needs more time to recover from a knee injury sustained nearly a month ago. David Wetherall is back from suspension. Midfielder David Batty also remains sidelined with a cracked rib, while new signing Willem Korsten has briefly returned home to Holland.
Last season: Blackburn 3 Leeds 4, Leeds 4 Blackburn 0
Last five league matches: Blackburn WDDWD, Leeds WWLWD
Top scorers: Ashley Ward (Blackburn) 15; Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Leeds) 11
Match odds: H 11-8 A 13-8 D 11-5
Referee: R Harris (Oxford)
Coventry (17) v Nottingham Forest (20)
Coventry left-back David Burrows is set to make his first Premiership start for 10 weeks after recovering from a hamstring injury. Paul Telfer and John Aloisi are also expected to feature in the starting line-up but George Boateng and Steve Froggatt are suspended after reaching five yellow cards.
Forest's caretaker boss Micky Adams has a fully fit squad but has promised to make changes to the starting line-up. Striker Pierre van Hooijdonk will return after serving a three-match ban.
Last season: No corresponding fixtures
Last five league matches: Coventry LLDDL, Nottm Forest LLDLD
Top scorers: John Aloisi (Coventry) 18; Dougie Freedman (Nottm Forest) 7
Match odds: H 4-6 A 10-3 D 5-2
Referee: P Jones (Loughborough)
Everton (14) v Leicester (10)
Marco Materazzi is suspended for the third time this season. Also out is injured defender Craig Short, while John Collins goes into hospital today for an operation on his foot that will keep him out for six weeks.
Leicester hope to have skipper Steve Walsh (ribs), winger Andy Impey (calf) and defender Pontus Kaamark (back) fit. Garry Parker and Graham Fenton are both likely to be ruled out with injuries picked up in midweek.
Last season: Everton 1 Leicester 1, Leicester 0 Everton 1
Last five league matches: Everton DWLDL, Leicester WWLWD
Top scorers: Ibrahima Bakayoko (Everton) 5; Emile Heskey, Tony Cottee (Leicester) 9
Match odds: H 5-4 A 7-4 D 9-4
Referee: P Durkin (Portland, Dorset)
Middlesbrough (8) v Aston Villa (1)
Robbie Mustoe is a major doubt for Middlesbrough because of a hamstring injury and Colin Cooper misses out through suspension.
Villa welcome back Ian Taylor and Dion Dublin after both missed last weekend's FA Cup success over Hull City with groin problems. Definitely missing are Alan Thompson, who is facing six weeks on the sidelines with an ankle ligament injury, and Paul Merson who still has a back problem.
Last season: No corresponding fixtures
Last five league matches: Middlesbrough DWWLL, Aston Villa LWWLW
Top scorers: Hamilton Ricard (Middlesbrough) 13; Dion Dublin (Aston Villa) 13
Match odds: H 6-4 A 6-4 D 11-5
Referee: U Rennie (Sheffield)
Newcastle (13) v Chelsea (2)
French defender Didier Domi looks set to get a Premiership debut as Newcastle boss Ruud Gullit welcomes former club Chelsea to St James' Park. A late decision will be taken on the inclusion of compatriot Louis Saha, who joined the club on loan until the end of the season as cover for injured frontman Duncan Ferguson. Gullit also has Rob Lee and Steve Howey available. Chelsea player-boss Gianluca Vialli will pick himself up front alongside Gianfranco Zola. Chelsea's five strikers at the start of the season have now become just two, with Tore Andre Flo out for at least six weeks with an ankle problem, Pierluigi Casiraghi sidelined by a long-term injury victim and Brian Laudrup having returned to Denmark. Gustavo Poyet is also still out and Celestine Babayaro is serving a one-match suspension.
Last season: Newcastle 3 Chelsea 1, Chelsea 1 Newcastle 0
Last five league matches: Newcastle DDWLL, Chelsea DDWWD
Top scorers: Alan Shearer (Newcastle) 9; Gustavo Poyet (Chelsea) 11
Match odds: H 7-4 A 5-4 D 9-4
Referee: D Gallagher (Banbury)
Sheffield Wed (15) v Tottenham (12)
Striker Andy Booth remains Wednesday boss Danny Wilson's major doubt. He missed last week's 4-1 FA Cup victory over Norwich with an ankle injury, which led to a forward partnership of two-goal Ritchie Humphreys and Benito Carbone. Ruel Fox is out of the Spurs team with a knee injury and that could pave the way for a Premiership debut for one of George Graham's two new signings - Steffen Freund and Mauricio Taricco. Chris Armstrong is available again after suspension and Graham has to chose two strikers from Armstrong, Steffen Iversen and Les Ferdinand.
Last season: Sheffield Wed 1 Tottenham 0, Tottenham 3 Sheffield Wed 2
Last five league matches: Sheff Wed WWLLL, Tottenham WDLDW
Top scorers: Benito Carbone (Sheff Wed) 4; Chris Armstrong (Tottenham) 11
Match odds: H 6-4 A 6-4 D 11-5
Referee: G Willard (Worthing)
Southampton (19) v Charlton (18)
Southampton boss Dave Jones is facing an injury crisis. Matt Le Tissier is likely to miss his third successive game after suffering a recurrence of a calf injury. Carlton Palmer (ankle), Scott Hiley (neck) and flu victims Hassan Kachloul and Stuart Ripley are also sidelined. Claus Lundekvam is hopeful of recovering from a groin injury.
Charlton boss Alan Curbishley could give a debut to Swedish international striker Martin Pringle after completing his signing from Benfica on loan until the end of the season with a view to a permanent deal. Steve Jones returns but Carl Tiler is suspended and Paul Mortimer is ruled out by an ankle injury.
Last season: No corresponding fixtures
Last five league matches: Southampton LLWLD, Charlton LLLLL
Top scorers: Egil Ostenstad (Southampton) 6; Clive Mendonca (Charlton) 6
Match odds: H 5-6 A 11-4 D 9-4
Referee: G Poll (Tring)
Wimbledon (9) v Derby (11)
Chris Perry returns from suspension for Wimbledon but fellow centre-half Dean Blackwell is still struggling with a calf injury and manager Joe Kinnear will make a late decision on his fitness. Midfielder Robbie Earle is another doubt with a hamstring problem.
Deon Burton looks likely to remain on the Derby bench as Paulo Wanchope returns from a onegame ban. Manager Jim Smith can also call on Tony Dorigo, Stefan Schnoor and Francesco Baiano after injuries plus Darryl Powell, who returns from a one-match ban.
Last season: Wimbledon 0 Derby 0, Derby 1 Wimbledon 1
Last five league matches: Wimbledon WWLWD, Derby DDDDW
Top scorers: Marcus Gayle (Wimbledon) 8; Dean Sturridge, Paulo Wanchope (Derby) 5
Match odds: H 10-11 A 5-2 D 9-4
Referee: A Wilkie (Chester-le-Street)
Sunday
Manchester Utd (3) v West Ham (6)
United have Raimond van der Gouw in goal with Peter Schmeichel taking a winter break in the Bahamas. Rookie goalkeeper Nick Colkin is likely to be on the bench. David Beckham and Gary Neville return from one-match bans and Ronny Johnsen is fit again after flu.
Ian Wright is very doubtful for West Ham because of a knee injury. Paul Kitson, who has recovered from a toe problem, is ruled out with the flu as is Emmanuel Omoyimni. Julian Dicks (knee) and Lee Hodges (groin) are definitely ruled out, but Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand return after flu and back trouble respectively.
Last season: Man Utd 2 West Ham 1, West Ham 1 Man Utd 1
Last five league matches: Man Utd DDLWD, West Ham LLWLW
Top scorers: Dwight Yorke (Man Utd) 12; Ian Wright (West Ham) 7
Match odds: H 8-15 A 5-1 D 12-5
Referee: M Reed (Birmingham)
Match odds supplied courtesy of William Hill
